EAST LANSING — There has been a flicker in Mark Dantonio's eye each time he has referenced Indiana's hurry-up offense.

The old defensive coordinator in Dantonio — the one that directed Ohio State's national championship defense in 2002 — comes out each time he mentions what he refers to as the Hoosiers' "rapid fire" offense, which ranks No. 9 in the nation.

Indiana (3-2, 1-0 Big Ten) left a lasting impression on Dantonio and his Spartans (4-1, 1-0) by jumping out to a 17-0 lead before Michigan State rallied for a 31-27 victory in Bloomington last season.

So much so that nothing is being taken for granted in East Lansing as Michigan State prepares for its noon homecoming game with the Hoosiers at Spartan Stadium (TV: ESPN2).

"It was scary, we didn't know what we were going to do,'' Bullough said, reflecting on his thoughts on last season's game when the Hoosiers jumped up 17-0. "It was the bubble (pass), they were non-stop hitting it on us, getting, 7, 8 9 10 yards every time.''

The bubble, a quick pass into the flats, hit Michigan State where it was vulnerable, Bullough explained.

"Yeah, it's one of those plays that's tough on our defense, playing cover four and our outside linebackers are (lined up) a little closer than some teams, so that's a tough play for us, and that's something they do is they try to take advantage of our linebackers' alignment,'' Bullough said. "I think they are better this year, they have guys that have been in the program a year longer, and their coach has done a great job getting the type of players he wants there.''

The challenge Indiana presents is more than just plays and personnel. More than anything, it's the fast tempo of its no-huddle offense.

"Indiana is an improved football team, much improved from when they came here in the past, and offensively, rapid fire, 11 seconds, 12 seconds, and he'll snap the ball,'' Dantonio said. "They're moving the ball down the field very quickly, and it only takes about three or four plays of you being tired and not being able to match up or not playing sound football or being lazy, and bad things can happen. So that's the challenge for our football team. Where they get you is the rapid development as we talked about already, and I think what ends up happening is the defense starts to wear down and starts to not play as well.''

Michigan State defensive line coach Ron Burton, who coached at Air Force last season where the Falcons also run a hurry-up of sorts, has shared his wisdom on how the Spartans must combat a Hoosiers' attack that averages 535 yards per game and scored a 44-24 win over Penn State last Saturday.

"They are very simple in their approach and the things they are going to run, the runs and passes, very simple with the offensive line, but what puts the pressure on you is the time and the quickness of the throws,'' Burton said. "Trying to get in and out of plays, I think that's the key, is their tempo.

"Number one, you have to be poised in getting back to the line of scrimmage and getting lined up. The key is after the play is over, and getting back to home and being ready to play, and that's being able to get lined up and that will be key to what we do.''

Dantonio said Michigan State forced 10 three-and-out offensive series at Iowa in last Saturday's 26-14 victory. Doing that while controlling the ball on offense represents the optimal situation for the Spartans.

But first things first. The defense must be able to maintain its aggressive ways, and that starts with being lined up properly to avoid the old football axiom of "misalignment, missed assignment" occurring in Saturday's game.

"In addition to that fast tempo, they get the ball to the outside, with bubble passes, jets (sweeps) or outside zone (run) truck plays, and they get back on the ball really quick,'' Bullough said. "So you're running lateral and then you're running back to the middle of the field (to get lined up).

"You go fast tempo, you get a lot of teams playing on their heels and not being able to get lined up and play physical, and that's going to be one of the challenges for us, with that fast tempo, to play our keys, play our gaps and play as physical as we have been.''

Dantonio indicated he will be sitting in on some defensive meetings with defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi this week.

Dantonio, however, attempted to downplay the level of added expertise he will bring to the Spartans' defensive meeting room.

"I'm going to be in the defensive room — I'm not just sitting in my office watching CNN,'' Dantonio said. "There's going to be a role that I play every week, whether it's in the offensive meeting rooms or whether it's the defensive meeting rooms, and I want to be knowledgeable what's going on in both, as well as special teams, so I'm in the defensive meeting rooms a lot.

"But Coach Narduzzi and the defensive staff do a tremendous job, and they're well on top of this. You know, he makes the great calls, and that's the way it should be.''